The Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

Success does not exist without the SUCK. So our tip to you: Embrace those bad days! They are going to happen.

When did it become a belief that success comes easy? It does not. It requires hard work, hard knocks, and sometimes a hard head to finally see the fruits of success. Success without the suck just does not exist.  We've all see the billboard...Bill Gates started Microsoft in a recession! That's what I am talking about. To achieve success you have to not only deal with moments of suckiness but also see the opportunity in that sucky moment.

Let me put it like this, sometimes you just have to cry through slicing that smelly onion to get the sumptuous flavor in your recipe!

I challenge you all to work through the SUCK to claim your SUCCESS.

Speaking of some well-earned success, congratulations to REMAX ACCESS in Northern Liberties, Philly for coming in at number 3 for the entire City of Philadelphia for total number of transactions (properties sold) in 2011. What a great year! Everyone simply kicked butt.

Money Motivates:  3 Tips You Can Bank On (Video)

I recently had the opportunity to speak in front of 300 Insurance Adjusters, thanks to an invitation by Dr Mike.  I met Dr Mike aka @drmikempa on Twitter and from there that is where he invited me to speak at the conference.  He asked me to share my experience of success and motivation as a business owner and independent contractor for both The Somers and REMAX Access.  

The 3 main tips/topics that I went over in detail were:

1. It is a Numbers Game
2. Do Not Step Over Dollars to Pick Up Dimes
3. ABC:  Always Be Closing

Here is the video:

If you would like to contact me for a speaking engagement, email me at csomers@remax.net.

Chris Somers shows you how easy it is to connect with the Somers Team on Twitter and which accounts you should follow now @phillyrealty and @thesomersteam!

I have two sweat-free activities you can do in Philadelphia that will shape you up and beautify your home. That's right. You can improve your self and your home simultaneously! How, you ask? By tapping into the Creative Right Side of your brain, that's how! This winter, rather than hibernating like a bear, embrace your inner artist and get inspired through homemade art and home design.

Make Art
This month try taking an art class such as painting, ceramics, knitting or photography at the Philly Art Center. Your personal creations will be real live works of art. Hang or display your artwork in a prominent room in your home and watch how it totally transforms your space! There is nothing more fabulous than real live art.

Visit the Show
Did you know that January 14th is the first day of the Philadelphia Home Show? This event is a real opportunity to feed the mind not the belly.  Go to this event and embrace your HGTV & DIY inner child. "Get inspired. Get educated. Get started."

So get off the couch and exercise the Right Side of your brain! Try these two sweat-free Tips to Personal & Home Improvement in Philadelphia.

[image from Philadelphia Home Show]

Got Scalped at Agent Reboot!

For those of you who do not know what Agent Reboot is, it’s a gathering of Real Estate and industry professionals who use social media and Internet stuff. It’s a crash course in the most current trends in technology and applications for entrepreneurs like Chris and I. We go every year.

This year, there was a lot of scalping going on at Agent Reboot in NYC. I am not talking about an onslaught of savage haircuts. And NO. I am not referring to snagging tickets from some seedy guy in a trench coat. Although, I guess anything is possible in NY, that's not what I am referring to.

What I am saying is that there were a huge number of Agent Reboot attendees showing their SCALPS during the presentations in NYC. Yeah. The tops of their heads! Side parts, bed heads, bald heads, big heads, and most shocking of all, Chris Smith's head!! (see image below...you rock Chris but put the hair gel down!) I think you will get the picture.

As I was saying...Heads were down! But don’t get the wrong message here. Scalps availed in every row but NOT because the speakers sucked or the info was mind-blowingly dull. On the contrary, it was awesome! I saw scalps because the attendees were texting, typing, and tweeting like mad all through the presentations. Tweeting Live. Blogging Live. How cool is that?

In the past seeing an audience full of scalps may have implied you were a dull as a doorknob. if people were not making eye contact then that was a sure sign, the show was over. Today, seeing a person’s scalp is pretty much as important as seeing their eyes. It is no longer an insult when you are speaking to a group and you see some heads are down. It’s cool. It's a compliment and it is a sign of the times. If they like what you say they'll tweet it, blog it, and post it for all to see. People want to share what is happening “Right Now”.

The preferred medium for communication has changed dramatically over the years. Technology is paving the way. With a few clicks your photo or video can be seen by a huge audience. For consumers, people like you and me, we love receiving info through our social venues like Facebook and Twitter. We like our info captured live. And, most of all the info must be relevant.

Therefore, next time you are in the audience and you like what you hear, feel free to Look Down and Scalp Them! Oh and PLEASE...Don’t forget to use your Head & Shoulders!

That was a dandruff joke guys! 

Too flaky?

 #agentrb

My Three Words for 2012 - thank you Chris Brogan!

I want to thank Chris Brogan for inspiring me to write this.  It was his blog "My 3 Words for 2012" that energized me to think and reflect about what my three words would be.  In essence, if you have not read it, every year since 2006 Brogan challenges his readers to forgo the idea of a resolution, and instead, to come up with 3 words that will help you define your goals and experiences for the coming year.  The reason being that resolutions are often too vague, or too directed towards one goal such as “quit smoking”.   Brogan suggests to "dig deeper, to find three words that could be used as lighthouses to guide you through stormy seas, that can be used as flags on the battlefield of your challenges, words that will bolster you and give you a direction that goes beyond the goals you might attach as a result of these words."

Last year, I commented on Brogan's blog but I do not even remember what my three words were so this year I felt that I needed to go a step further, and "dig deep", and find something I will refer back to throughout the year.

Looking back, I did pretty good without remembering my three words, especially in business!  I can only imagine how much better the year would have been if I would have remembered those 3 words!!  So jump right in with me on my three words for 2012 and I would love to know your opinion of them:

 Foundation     Student     Visionary

FOUNDATION

Anything built that is going to hold me up must be built on a strong foundation.  For myself, I need to lay a stronger foundation in three main areas in 2012:  exercise, health and balance.

• Exercise - I cannot continue to joke about going to the gym 1.5 times a week.  It is not funny anymore.  Talking about is not strong.  In order to improve this, it takes 25 to 30 days to create a habit.  My goal will be 3 to 4 times a week for those 25 to 30 days.  For an ex top ranked tennis player in the state of Virginia, this should not be difficult! 
• Health - My name is Christopher Somers, and I am a Pepsi addict.  There, I said it!  Instead of paving 2012 with caffeine and stressful moments, I can build a better foundation by reducing both Pepsi and stress!  My gracious staff of RE/MAX Access has already paved the path by providing me with a 90 minute Swedish massage for a XMAS gift.  And the Pepsi reduction will all be on me!
• Balance - This is one I have been struggling with over the years as I channel so much energy into work being a business owner of REMAX Access and a self-employed entrepreneur / Realtor / CEO of The Somers.  My goal is to be more efficient with my time to be able to take more time to spend with my wife, to take more vacations, to be able to concentrate on health and wellness more and the like.  I have a feeling that all three of these things will come together, thus creating FOUNDATION!

STUDENT

A student is always open-minded to knowledge, learning and practicing.  I always want to be a student of life, a student of real estate, of the world and the things that interest me the most.  And ultimately those who know, teach!   It is important that I do not rest on my laurels or get lazy or complacent like that kid who rolls into school late or who sits in the back of the class not paying attention.  One of the things I am doing right away is attending the Inman Real Estate Conference and I am going to approach that like a student as the leaders in the industry will be at this conference.  Student is a humbling word for me and I am going to treat it with the utmost importance in 2012.

VISIONARY

A visionary is a person who can see the potential of the future through a clear and focused mind.   Visionaries cannot get side-tracked, distracted or have "attention deficit disorder".   Being a control freak is not going to work in 2012.  As a visionary, there needs to be an aspect of faith and strength.  This is not just in business, but in all aspects of life.  I can see myself now accomplishing these items.  And I believe having a strong foundation, being a student of life and developing vision will set the stage for 2012. 

This year I will remember my three words:  FOUNDATION, STUDENT and VISIONARY .

I challenge you to dig deep as well.  What three words will define you for 2012?

~ Christopher Somers

There is one thing we can count on every single year as we approach January 1st. The Best Of's. You know darn well that before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, we will have been subjected to The Best News Headlines of 2011, the Best Blockbusters of 2011, The Best Performers of 2011, The Best of the Worst in 2011 and whatever else the Year had to offer in 2011.

To go with the flow and stay on trend, here are the Best of our Tip Jar Tips in 2011. What was the best tip you received this year?

Tip Jar: Pheromones Sell Homes

Tip Jar: Stay Excited in the Bedroom and Beyond!

Tip Jar: Increase Your Home’s Value!

Tip Jar: How to Banish the 4 Letter Curse Word “MOLD”

Tip Jar: Open House Anarchy. A Top Philadelphia Realtor Manifesto!

2012 Predictions from The Somers

It is that time again to make bold predictions as  2012 is right around the corner!  So let's just get right into it!

1.  Barack Obama will be reelected as President of the United States.                                     

2.  Mitt Romney will be the GOP candidate.

3.  The United States economy will see improvement each quarter in 2012 (which bodes well for the Obama prediction).

4.  The turnaround story for 2012 is Housing.

5.  Republicans will gain seats in the Senate and the House.

6.  The Stock Market (all three indexes DOW, S&P and NASDAQ) will see double digit gains.

7.  Congress will continue to look like idiots being in gridlock on every issue.

8.  Mortgage rates will remain low but will finally start to trend up the second half of the year.

9.  The Green Bay Packers lose in the Super Bowl to whoever they play in the AFC.

10.  The 76ers lose in the first round of the playoffs again.

11.  The Philadelphia Phillies win another World Series.

12.  Carl Greene ends up in jail for solicitation.

13.  The Occupy movement is quickly forgotten (no more mic-checks!)

14.  Philadelphia real estate heats up locally, especially fringe areas as the first time home-buyer drives the market.

15.  REMAX Access continues to take market share from its competitors in Philadelphia.

What are your predictions?

Map your Lifestyle.

Map your Lifestyle and let it Lead the way to your New Home!

We'd like to introduce to you a NEW WAY of Searching for Homes. Map it. Map out the nearest Cafe, Restaurant, Park, Nature Trail, School etc.  and find the homes for sale located closest to your Lifestyle trends. Customize your own search, change your criteria, and save your search as a link and mail it to your friends and family!

Log onto our blog or website to use this Free Interactive Lifestyle Map. Try it. We'd love to know what you think!